A healthy week

On Sunday I mentioned that I had a fridge full of produce. It is midweek and I wanted to report I'm doing great. Dieting for me isn't about having to eat high calorie food. It's about being prepared with low calorie snacks.
This week has been a success. I've taken oranges, apples, and canteloupe everyday. It helps curb any temptation from the office!
A huge thanks to my hubs for cutting up mango and strawberries for us to finish the week on!

Fridays are my "cheat" days I don't go crazy but I don't count cals and I still exercise I just don't journal everything I eat that day.

I'm waiting until Friday to weigh. Normally Crane and I weigh daily. I know that sounds insane to some but it totally keeps me on track. Good or bad.

I went to the gym last night and twice today. So hopefully I'm burning a lot more cals then I'm eating.

I've never touched on how many calories I'm eating. I try to eat around 1500 cals per day. Even on weekends. Now that being said I don't count fruit or veggies. I know they have cals but I'm losing weight this way so I figure what I'm doing is working.

I initially lost 30 lbs. I'm sad to say I had gained 15 lbs back. Boo
Now  on the rt track. I'm hoping to be down about 4 lbs this week.

I will keep everyone posted!

Diet..........Update

Just wanted to do a quick update on how things are going! I had stopped dieting when my dad passed away, there was so much food, and zero time to meal prep, and I just wasn't into it at that time! So......I'm back, with a fridge stocked full of my usuals, carrots, broccoli, apples, and oranges, those are my calorie free snacks, and I love them. I did recently buy PB2, and I can't wait to try that, maybe for breakfast in the morning?

I love the new neighborhood, we live on a circle, so an easy 1/2 mile walk, we usually walk it 2-3 times, with a little jogging in there too! I'm also hoping the swimming pool will help burn some calories too this summer!

For me it's all about time and meal prep, I do so very good, when I'm prepared, the minute I run out of something, it's over........... I head straight to the pantry for an easy, unhealthy snack!

I'm so lucky that both my children eat very healthy, they both love salads with no dressing, and love raw veggies, so we always have a veggie tray around too!

My almost 7 year old (how in the world did that happen???) wants to run the 5K I do in Oct, so he has been jogging our circle with me, I'd love for him to do the 5K with me, that would be so awesome to have him run with me, we shall see how that goes!

Oh and before I close, I will tell you my favorite healthy side dish is a roasted sweet potato, I peel it, and cut it in small chunks, I roast it in the oven with cinnamon and Splenda on it, they are so delish and keep me feeling full after I eat them!

Looking forward to making healthy choices this week!

Feb's Fireman's Ball

Can we say late posting? Whomp :(
Too many things going on in my life right now that doesn't allow time for blogging, but I'm trying to do better!

To say we had a blast would be a complete understatement! The hubs and I never go out and leave the kids, and on the rare occasion that we do, it's for one hour to grab a quick bite and back home! We knew we deserved this night out! Mom and Dad volunteered to watch Eman, and we got a sitter for Bman!

 I went to a local consignment shop on lunch one day with Shannon, (great entertainment for her for sure) I fell in love with a Ky Blue dress, it was so pretty, it was a Large and just a lil snug, I was a bit disappointed for sure. The prices were over 100.00 and on consignment I just thought that was too pricey!

I knew I needed mom's help, she might be 68 years old, but the lady has style and knows a great fit when she see's it! It brought back prom dress shopping memories for sure! We went to several stores, went a store that only sold Junior sizes, and while I fit in a few of the dresses, the dressing rooms where meant for 10 year olds, the door was a half-size so my shoulders and above were sticking out as well as everything below the knee, it was not pretty when I had to bend over..........sorry keep in real! ha! Needless to say my mom got lots of entertainment out of that store/trip!
We headed to Dillards and that's where we tried on every formal dress they had in the store! and the last dress I tried on was "the one" it was a floor length black one shoulder dress that had sequin all down one side! A HUGE THANKS TO MOM FOR BUYING IT FOR ME TOO!!! She is the absolute best mother in the world, and no not for buying the dress, but for everything she does and taught us! We love you mom! :)
We ended the night with a quick drive thru meal, so I could get home to my babies!

I made an apt. for me to get my hair done, let's see I typically get haircuts, but that's it! At the time of the ball I was letting my hair get super long, it was half way down my back, so I had lots of options, and let me say, I have some super thick hair! I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

While I loved it down, I knew we'd be dancing and I didn't want to fool with it, so we decided for a half up side do! I loved it, it was perfect, thanks Sandi! I got so many compliments on my hair that night!

We met up with all the crew from the hubs station at Long Horn's, it was a fun-filled night.

The guys-lucky girls!

The girls-lucky men!

Formal photo

Casual photo

Such a fun-filled night! We were home by 11:00ish, alot of other couples stayed the night, but we had to go home and get some sweet snuggles from the boys!

Both boys said I looked pretty and it melted my heart! I dress up for work, but nothing fancy, so that was prolly the first occasion they have seen me dressed up like that!

Thanks hubs for a wonderful evening! I LOVE YOU!

Bre B-day Party

It is crazy that I'm just now blogging about this sweet boy's bday party! I can hardly believe he is 4, growing like a weed, smart as can be, and finally healthy! It doesn't seem possible that I don't have any babies anymore!
He wanted a Donald Duck party, and I questioned him and I said, do you mean a Disney, or Mickey and Friends, his answer.............."nope, Donald duck party, I said" ha! Gotta love a boy that has made up his mind! :)
As most of you know, there is nothing that specifically relates to Donald Duck, so I got to work, thanks to Pinterest I found the cutest invites, sorry I don't have the link, but here they are:

I did these by hand, didn't use the cricut, they have small imperfections, but they were as cute as they could be, we typed the party info on yellow paper and it went sideways in the invite, so behind the red bow is a lil

pocket!

When these turned out as cute as could be, I also googled how to make your own pinata, and let me just tell you.................it was the easiest thing ever, I couldn't believe how easy, and how cheap! I was never fond of paying 20 bucks for the licensed character ones at Walmart, so I would always go with the cheaper ones that were shaped like a present or a party hat, for 10 bucks, then would learn the wand/baton for the kids to use to beat it with, were an additional 5 bucks, was sickening, by the time I bought a cheap pinata, and the 20 bucks worth of candy/junk, to go in it, we were out 30 bucks and that seemed too high for this cheap momma! This is what I made!

Easy-Peasy I tell ya, I cut a round circle out of cardboard, (probably the hardest part), then I made it as wide as I wanted/needed, and used the cardboard from a Ritz cracker box, you could use a cereal box or anything that is lightweight like that, it can't be as sturdy as cardboard or it won't break! I taped it up with masking tape, and filled it up with goodies, I cut the tissue paper like fringe and applied with a glue stick, the yellow strip and red bow are cardstock as well the hat, that it folks, I did cut a hole in the top to hold a piece of curly ribbon to hang it, these are super tough, there were prolly 14 kids at the party and each got a chance to hit the pinata twice! I also lucked out at Walmart last year and they had the girl's pinata party packs that are normally ten bucks for bracelets and such, marked down to 1 buck, I bought 2, so I still have one for E-man's party, woot-woot!

Cupcakes I just printed pics on cardstock, and the boy requested blue icing, I thought they turned out cute, and saved me from ordering a $40.00 cake!

I'm pretty frugal when it comes to the boy's parties, however the hubs doesn't think so! If he only knew, we have in the past rented out facilities for parties, now that we have a bigger house we prolly won't do that anymore, maybe on occasion, EE loves pool parties and we have a huge pool so that works out great, since Bre is a winter baby, there isn't alot you can do at the house, I guess they will get a choice, big present or party on location somewhere!

His present was a shirt to match, and some Chicago fire shirts! (thanks Jenny, you did a great job!)

We had a fantastic time, celebrating this sweet boy's life! Poc was able to come too, and that was great! we didn't think he'd be able to come, but he did, and stayed as long as he could, we took him the leftover cupcakes!

Sorry for the delay in posting, moving has been crazy, baseball and soccer are in full swing too. Look for Fireman Ball Post tomorrow :)

What a day that will be.........

What a day that will be.........When my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace!

My dad is no longer wondering what a day that will be, he is living it! He went to be with his Father in Heaven two days before his Birthday! It was so hard on us, but we know he had the best Birthday party ever!

My boys were bummed we couldn't have a Birthday party, so we sent balloons to Poc in Heaven, they liked that!

My dad was the best Grandpa ever, he didn't stand by and just acknowledge the grandkids were over, or around him, nope not Poc, he would get in the floor and play with them. He attended as many ballgames as possible, and loved them like there was no tomorrow. My boys are sad, my nephew is sad, it's a hole that will be void for a very long time!

My boys are believers and they know Poc is in Heaven! They know he is just fine!

Brian Free was one of my dad's favorite gospel singers, so we played his version of What a day that will be. It was great, I know given the chance my dad wouldn't come back to this world, he is happy and he is with others he had been longing to see!

We are so glad we get the privilege of taking good care of Nanny, we love her, and support her, and know she is sad. Mom and dad were married 44 years, they were such a good example of love, hard work, dedication, Jesus first, family second.

I will leave you with a sweet picture of mom and dad!

My Uncle Allen

This post is LOOOOOONG overdue! My Uncle Allen died Feb 9th, he was my dad's big brother! They were buddies growing up, both loved the outdoors, both had great wives (welcome Mom and Aunt Linda), both had 2 wonderful children (patting myself on the back), both had great careers.
Only problem............one lived in the city, one lived in the country, my dad always worked two jobs and there was very little time to socialize!

My uncle had cancer along with my dad, one would go in the hospital and then the other, this became a pattern for a good three months!

My dad misses him so much, and is very sad! He has said alot that he is in Heaven with their baby sister Shelby, their mom and dad, grandparents and such, and that has given my dad a sense of peace!

It's still so hard not to pick up the phone to call him!

This is a picture of all 3 siblings, my Aunt Susan, my Uncle Allen, and my Dad! Believe it or not they all have the same parents (i think) j/k, if my youngest didn't look like my dad's father, I'd question it.

The above picture is of the cousins, now I wish we had taken the picture in the same order as our parents, but it didn't work that way! From L-R Cassie (Allen's daughter), Me, and Rachel (Susan's daughter)

We took these at our Family Reunion which is every 4th of July! Lots of fun and lots of great childhood memories of that day! It's not as fun now, but that's another post!

One thing Uncle Allen said that I will never forget is this, my dad was upset in hospital back around Christmas and the nurse walked in and said what's the matter, my uncle was visiting and he said "we're really close, and I have cancer too" I'm sure that's not quote/unquote..................but that "hit" me, and I literally about choked up!

I hope Allen knew just how much we loved him! When I go camping I will think of him, when I see the snow (he loved the snow) I will think of him!

Cassie, Linda and Shane you have my deepest sympathies as well as the grandkids! I love you guys and if I can do anything, please don't hesitate to call!

Sorry for the sad post, but I didn't want to document our life and leave out what Feb was for us! It was also good as we celebrated my little 4 year old Miracle Baby's life and Birthday-pics to come!

***WARNING NEXT POST MIGHT BE A PICTURE DUMP***

Where have I been?

Wow, has it really been a month? Where have I been? Let's see, I've been packing, taking lil boys to baseball practice, signing up lil boys for Soccer, getting our house ready to sell, and scheduling viewings of our dream home! To say i've been busy is a total understatement!

Lot's are going on, baseball is in full swing and we practice two nights a week, I love it! I won't lie I was a little nervous, my boy is playing in the bigger boy league a whole season early, per the umpires recommendation, so we went with it, and you can't tell he is 6 months to 1 year younger then the others on his team! Most are a year older then he is, I can't say how impressed I am with our lil guy! HE ROCKS Y'ALL!

Let me fill you in on something super cool/fun, my hubs and I are going to the Fireman Ball, this is all out formal, formal gown, up-do hair, spray tan, you name it! We haven't had a date night in a very, very long time! And when we do go on a date night, it's usually for one hour to eat and right back home! A big thank you to my mother who bought my gown, it's a long black one-shoulder dress! I will post pictures I promise!

The house, you ask? Well things are moving fast! like very fast! Broker apts, home inspections, termite inspections, appraisals, it's been something almost everyday, we are now awaiting our closing date on both homes! Looks like we can move the week of Spring Break and my hubs is off so it works perfect! Please say a prayer for my friend Amy, she is listing 2 homes this week to sell, 1 is stressful enough, but 2 makes her Super Woman, one of those homes is almost 2 hours away! I pray her home sells fast, so she can purchase her dream home! Also pray for my friend Jennifer, she just listed her home this week also! :)

Dentist apts were last week for the boys and today for me! EE had to have a baby tooth pulled as his adult tooth was coming in behind the baby tooth, he was so brave and did so well. I went today in fear I had a cavity, but the Dentist doesn't think so, he said we'd keep an eye out on it!

Update on my dad- he is hanging in there! He is one tough cookie for sure. he looks good, but has been complaining of stomach and side pain for a good 2 weeks, I really have a fear the cancer is spreading out of control, but we won't know anything until Friday, when he goes back to the Oncologist, please remember him in prayer also! He could use all the prayers he can get! My mom too! They are the best of friends and she is so sad/depressed over his cancer battle!

Speaking of my dad, when we get in the new house we plan to have a big birthday party for him, and we have Relay for Life Upon us too, so we will have those shirts ready to order for his birthday! Relay reminds me when last year my Uncle came to support his brother (my dad) and he had recently been diagnosed with cancer, my dad was so glad he came out and brought his family. That Uncle died Feb. 9th of this year, almost a month ago! Dad was diagnosed terminal and my uncle wasn't. We just never know when our time is! I loved my uncle, he and I had alot in common, pretty sure he is where I got my camping "gene" from!
I'm still praying for my Aunt Linda, Cassie, and Shane! It's so hard, no doubt about it!

Love on your loved ones, let them know daily how much you love them, you won't regret it!

Last thing, the Biggest Loser at work, is going well, out of 25 people I'm in the top 3, not bad! I want to win that money!

I believe that's it, sorry for the long post, I will do better!